Cord blood is a noncontroversial source of stem cells, yet 99% of this lifesavings resource is thrown away. Private cord-blood banks, which are for-profit, aggressively advertise their services to pregnant women. The cost is high. Initial processing can run $2,000 and yearly fees to store the cord- blood are $125 per year. The cord-blood can only be used for the donor’s family.
Public cord-blood banks, which are non-profit, make their cord blood available to anyone who is a close enough match. There are only 19 public banks in the U.S. and until recently, women could only donate at one of the 175 affiliated hospitals. That has changed. Time reported in the July 25, 2010 issue that there is a Public Kit Donation Project. Mom-to-be can request a kit for free and their doctors are trained for free. The cord-blood is collected and sent to the bank within 48 Hours.
It costs the moms nothing to donate the cord blood. The cost of collection is borne by the government and the participating banks. When matches are made, the banks are paid by recipients’ insurance companies.
Cord blood is already being used in therapy regimens for patients with cancer, sickle-cell anemia, marrow failure and genetic diseases that call for transplants. Now there is an another options to give the gift of life in addition to organ donation.
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